Diagnostic centres
These days numerous medical diagnostic centres have sprouted up in the larger cities of Bangladesh but it seems that these have no guardians to look after the interest of the naive patients who do not understand the technicalities of numerous tests and which are beyond the budget of the middle class families. Then there is the contradiction of wealthy patients going abroad for treatment.
Recently there was a news item in the press of the arrest of a fake doctor of such a centre. There is a tendency amongst a section of the doctors to recommend more tests than essential. Normally, the tests could be categorised under three heads: 'Essential', 'Necessary, and 'Optional'. It is understood that the prescribing doctors get a commission from the fees of the tests. These tests, with modern equipment, are a source of profit to the centres and are supposed to impress the patients.
There appears to be no independent body to monitor these services, to protect the interest of thousands of patients. The ministry of health should publicise the monitoring and regulation of this sector in public interest. Also, the doctors in their prescriptions, frequently omit to write down the symptoms and diagnostics (to avoid detect wrong treatments).
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